Devices having two portions one of which is a sleeve adapted to be fixed on and removed from the other portion



Oct. 8, 1957` A. KATz 2,808,670

DEVIcEs HAVING Iwo PoRTIoNs oNE oF WHICH Is A SLEEVE ADAPIED To BE FIXED on AND REMOVED FROM THE OTHER PORTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. e'. 1953 A. KATZ Oct. 8, 1957 2,808,670 wo PoRTIoNs ONE 0F WHICH Is A s f DEVICES HAVING T LEEVE ADAPTED TO BE FIXED 0N AND REMOVED FROM THE OTHERPORTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6. 1953 xUnited States Patent' DEVICES HAVING TWO PORTIONS ONE OF WHICH IS A SLEEVE ADAPTED TO`BE FIXED ON AND REMOVED FROM THE OTHER PORTION Armin Katz, Amsterdam, Netherlands Application November 6, 1953, Serial No. 390,674

S Claims. (Cl. 40-62) This invention relates to devices having two portions one of which is a cap adapted to be fixed on and removed from the other portion.

It is an object of this invention to provide at least one sign, for instance a picture, a text, a single word or any design and a movable part on one of these portions, this part being controllable by the other portion of the device for causing appearance and disappearance of the sign on the said one portion. The movable part may have the form of an axially movable hollow cylinder being held in one position by spring load when the cap is taken oif the other portion of the device or aixed to a rst end of the other portion, but is controlled when the cap is affixed to a second end of the said other portion and displaced to another position, the sign being visible for one position of the movable cylinder and invisible for the other position of the same. The sign` may either be brought onto the movable part, in which case the movable part will be controlled by the other portion of the device to appear from and disappear under a covering member' or the movable' part may be controlled to cover and uncover another part on which the sign is arranged. The sign might'be of the illuminated type, which is only visible when illuminated for instance from the interior of a body having transparent walls, in which case the movable part might be an electric contact closing and opening the circuit for an electric illumination. Preferably the movable partis a sleeve or hollow cylinder axially movable but it might also be a turnable member.

Typical embodiments of the device according to this invention are shown by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is an axial section of a fountainpen with a cap mounted on the rear portion of its shaft,`

Fig. 2 is an axial section of the same fountain pen with the cap mounted on the other end of the shaft;

Fig. 3 is a section on'the line III--III in Fig; 1,

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the fountain pen, a sign'appearing in the left and being coveredin the right portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is an axial section of a modified embodiment for a ball pointed pen and` Fig. 6 is a'sectionon the line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

In Figure 2 the'pen 2 ofthe fountain pen is fixed in the shaft 1 of ythesame. The shaftA 1l has a threaded portion 3 near its endcarrying the pen 2 onto which the sleeve or cap C is screwed in the position'of Fig. 2. In the position of Fig. 1 the cap is mounted onthe rear end of the shaft 1. The cap has an outer cylinder 4 withan inner ange 5. An inner cylinder 6 is inserted into the outer cylinder 4, The cylinders 4 and 6 enclose a ring-shaped space 7 for accommodation of a compression spring 8. A ring 9 of the clip 10 is inserted between the inner flange 5 and a part 11 which is threaded into the cylinder 6at 12- and 12a respectively. The parts 4, 6 and 9 areheld together by means of the part 11. A portion of a part 13 in the form ofa hollow cylinder is mounted in the space 7 for axialmovementl with respect Z to the other parts of the cap. The hollow cylinderk 13 has at its upper end three bridges 14 extending through y openings 15 of the inner cylinder 6 into the interior of the hollow cylinder 13` where they are interconnectedv by a ring 16. The spring S'bears against the tiange 5 with one end and againstk the upper face ofthe hollow cylinder 13 with its other end'thereby urging the hollow cylinder into the position shown in Fig. l. A hollow cylinder 18 with a picture 17 is exchangeably mounted on the hollow'cylinder 13 and is held thereon by the ring 19 removably mounted on thehollowV cylinder 13. The cylinder 18 may be made of paper; card board, artificial material, metal or'another suitable material. The picture may be painted, printed, engraved or produced by any other-method on the hollowv cylinder. The cylinderV 18 might be dispensed withY and the picture might' appear directly on the hollow cylinder 13; Instead of one or morel pictures any other'si'gn-asked for bythe-buyer, for instance a text or a single word might'be provided on the cylinder.

The parts of the cap are'assembled in the following manner: First thehollow cylinder 13is broughtonto the inner cylinder 6 from top in Fig.V 1 whereby the bridges 14 areinserted'into the openings 15 of the cylinder 6. Thereafter the spring 8 isv put in place, and the outer cylinder 4 is slidover'the'same until its inner ange 5 seats on the shoulder 20 of thecylinder 6. Now the ring 9 ofthe clip 10` is put onto the flangeV 5 and the part 11 is threaded into the cylinder 6.

With theV parts` of the capy in the'position shown in Fig. 1 the spring-8 presses the bridges 14' ofthe Vhollow cylinder 13a/against the'lower' edge21 ofthe-openings 1-5 in the cylinder 6. The cylinder 18with the-picture 17 y extends from thefother parts'ofthecapfso that the-picture is'visible (left vhalf of'Fig. 4`). The cap C is mounted onto therear end of-the shaft 1 and theother end of shaft 1 carryingV thef pen 2' is uncovered. The fountain pen is ready for writing. If`the cap C is taken oif the rearl end of shaft 1 and'isV slid4 over the other end of the shaft'l for protection of the pen 2 the-shoulder 21 of the shaft first` touches the bridges 14and then, on further relative movement of the shaft'fandfthesleeve inthe same direction the ring 16 together with the cylinder 13 andthe picture 17 is moved towards the-part 11 until it-abuts against'the lowerv edge of the part'11.` During this movement the spring 8 has beencompressed. Thus the shaft Y 1Y controls thecylinder 13 which is axially movable with respect to theV other parts of the cap. The cap or the shaft 1 is now rotated in order to; engage the threaded portion 6a of the cap with the `threaded-.portion 3-of the shaft 1. The cap and 'the shaft 1 arenowv in the relative position shown in Fig.r 2 and the ring 16 tightly engages the shoulder 21 and the lower face of the part 11 sothat no ink may leak to the outer portionsof the sleeve; The picture 17 has now-moved to the ring space 7 where it is hidden under the cylinder 4 (right half of Fig.` 4). If the fountain pen is tobe transformed from theposition shown in Fig. 2 into the-position shown inV Fig; 1: the cap is screwed off the shaft 1 and in removing the= cap from the shaft 1 Vthe'latter controls the" cylinder 13 so that the latter is pushed downwards together with the cylinder 18 and the. picture 17 under the action of the spring 8, whereby theipicture again becomes visible; By the appearance of the picture which is always visible during writing, the writer: willbe inspired. The cap might, instead of` beingthreaded: onto the shaft '1 simply be slipped onto the same. Of course more or lessthan three bridges 14 might be provided. f

FiguresS `ando illustrate alball pointed pen'.` As seen in Fig. 5 the cap of this modified device has a sleeve 22 slipped onto the balljpointedend of the shaft 23 of the pen` and covers and protects theball 24; The sleeve 22 Vthe sign on the cap might be screwedl onto the shaft 23. A cylindrical part i closed at its upper end has an outer ange 26 with slots 27. The ilange 26 is fixed to the part 22 of the sleeve by screwing, welding, soldering or pressing. The part 25`is enclosed by a hollow cylinder 28 split at its lower end to form three extensions 29.. These extensions extend through the slots 27 into thesleeve 22 of the cap. A disk 31 with a central opening 30 is fixed to the lower end of the extensions 29 for instance by screwing, welding or soldering. A compression spring 32 housed within the part 25 of the cap is held between the bottom of the part 25 and the disk 31 and tends to push the hollow cylinder 28 downwards in Fig. 5.Y The sign, for instance a picture, a text, a word or anything else is provided'on the outer faceof the cylinder 25. As described above for the pen shown in Figures l to 4 the signmight be brought directly onto the part 25 or onto a sleeve which would exchangeably be mounted on the part 25. In the position of Fig. 5, that is when the cap is fixed on the 'shaft 23, the tip of the shaft carrying the ball 24 projects through the opening 30 bearing against the lower edge 'of the opening 30 thereby'lifting the cylinder 28 in spite of the action of the spring 32. In this position the cylinder 28 hides the sign on the outer surface of the part 25. If, however, the cap is taken off the shaft 23 the latter is freed from the cylinder 28 so that the disk 31 and consequently the cylinder 28 isY moved by the spring `32 downwards until the shoulder 33 formed between extensions 29 of the cylinder 28 abuts against the flange 26. By this movement the cylinder 28 has uncovered the sign which is also visible if the cap is slipped onto the rear end of the shaft 23. If the cap is again brought onto the ball pointed end of the shaft 23 the cylinder 2S forming a part which is axially movable with respect to the other parts of the cap, is controlled by the shaft 23 and is urged into the position shown'in Fig. 5 wherein it again hides the sign on the part 25 of the cap.

In both embodiments the sign lappears when the cap is being removed from the end of the shaft carrying the pen or the ball and remains visible duringthe use of the writing ingredient that is when the cap is slipped onto the rear end of the shaft. The sign and/or different parts of the cap might, however, be so arranged that the sign appears whenever the cap is taken oli:l the rear end of the shaft and is fixed to the other end (carrying the pen or the ball) of the shaft.

In the iirst embodiment (Figs. l to 4) the sign appears at the lower end, in the second embodiment (Figs. 5 and 6) at the upper end of the cap. The sign might, however, appear on any other portion of the cap. It might, for instance only be visible through a window. A magnifying glass might be provided for magnifying the sign.

In still another embodiment of this invention the part of the cap which is movable with respect to the other parts of thecap and which makes the sign or picture appear and disappear may be turn-ably mounted in the cap.

Instead of a writing implement a lip-stick or any other device having a removable cap might be designed according to this invention.

The sign might be in the form of light signals, In this case the relatively movable part may be an electric contact.

The parts of the device may be made of any suitable material.

Instead of providing the relatively movable part and these might be arranged on the shaft of the device. Y

The cap might beso designed that it may be fixed on the shaft of devices which are already on the market or inV general use. f

WhatIclaimis:

l. A writing instrument having a "cap portion and a shaft portion adapted to be inserted into and removed from the said cap portion,A the said cap portion having a iixed part comprising an inner sleeve adapted to take up 4 the said shaft portion and an outer sleeve, a space of ringshaped cross section being formed between the said inner and outer sleeve, the said sleeves being interconnected at one end thereof and the said space of ring-shaped cross section being closed at the connecting end of the sleeves and open at the other end of the sleeves, a cylindrical mantle axially displaceable in Vthe said space of ring- Shaped cross section, axially extending vapertures inthe said inner sleeve, bridges on the said mantle extending radially through the said apertures into the interior of the said inner sleeve, a ring connected to the inner ends of the said bridges, the said bridges being axially displaceable in the said apertures thereby allowing axial displacement of the said cylindrical mantle and of the said ring, spring means between the said fixed part and the said cylindrical mantle urging the said mantle into an outer end position for which an area carrying a sign of the mantle projects from the said space of ring-shaped cross section, and the said ring being adapted for operatively engaging the said shaft portion when the same is inserted into the said cap portion, the ring and the cylindrical mantle connected therewith being held in an innerV end position by the shaft portion inserted into the cap portion, the said area carrying a sign being covered by the said outer sleeve when the said mantle is held in its inner end position.

2. A writing instrument having a cap portion and a shaft portion adapted to be inserted into and removed from the said cap portion, the saidV cap portion having a fixed part comprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve, one end of the said inner sleeve being connected to the outer sleevel by bridge portions and the other end of the inner sleeve projecting axially from the said outer sleeve, a space of ring-shaped cross section between the said outer and inner sleeve, a third sleeve having a cylindrical wall portion and a bottom portion, axially extending apertures in the said wall portion, the said third sleeve being axially displaceably inserted in the said space between the said outer and inner sleeve whereby the said bridge portions project through the said apertures, a bottom portion on the said inner sleeve at its end axially projecting from the said outer sleeve, and the said bottom portion of the said third sleeve situated in front of the open end of the said inner sleeve, a pressure spring inserted between the bottom portion of the said inner sleeve and the bottom portion of the said third sleeve, the said third sleeve being held in a first end position by the said pressure spring in which the said third sleeve uncovers an area carrying a sign of the said inner sleeve, and the bottom portion of the said third sleeve being adapted for operatively engaging the said shaft portion for keeping the said third sleeve in a second end position, when the said shaft portion is inserted into the said cap portion, the said third sleeve covering the said area carrying a sign ofthe said inner sleeve in its second end positiortpV 3. A device having a cap portion anda shaft portion adaptedrto be inserted into and removed from the said cap portion, the said cap'portion comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve xedly attached to each other, a space of ring-shaped cross section'being formed between the said inner and outer sleeve, a third sleeve axially` displaceable in the said space of ring-Shaped cross-section, spring means urging the said third sleeve into a first axial end position and control means connected to the said third sleeve adapted for operatively engaging the said shaft portion when Vthe same is inserted into the said cap portion, the's'aid control means keeping the said third sleeve in a second axial Aend position when the said shaft portion is inserted into the said cap portion, an area carrying a sign 'on oneof the said sleeves, the said area carrying a Ysign being covered and not visible for one of the said end positions. ofthe said third sleeve and the said area carrying a signbeing uncovered and visible for the-other endposition of the said third sleeve.

4. A device having a cap portion and a shaft portion adapted to be inserted into and removed from the said cap portion, one of the said portions having a surface carrying a sign,a displaceable part and a rst control member operatively connected therewith, the said part being displaceable on the said one portion between a iirst and a second end position, means for keeping the said displaceable part and iirst control member in the said first end position, a second control member on the other of the saidportions, the said rst and second control members being adapted for operatively engaging each other when the said shaft portion is inserted into the said cap portion, the said rst displaceable control member and the said displaceable part operatively connected together and being in the said second end position under control of the said second control member when the said shaft portion is fully inserted into the said cap portion, the said sign being visible for one of the said end positions of the displaceable part and the said sign being not visible for the other end position of the displaceable part.

5. A device having two portions adapted to be attached to and separated from each other, one of the said portions having a rst part and a second part, an area carrying a sign on one of the said parts, rst control means '6 operatively connected with one of the said rst and second parts, second control means on the other of said portions, the said rst and second control means operatively engaging each other when the said portions are attached to each other thereby keeping the said parts in a first relative position, and means in the said one portion for keeping the said parts in a second relative position when the portions are separated from each other, the said area carrying a sign on one of the said parts being visible for one of the said relative positions and the said area carrying a sign being covered by the other of the said parts for the other of the said relative positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,075,631 Dods Oct. 14, 1913 1,476,582 Beadles Dec. 4, 1923 1,508,170 DOlier Sept. 9, 1924 1,697,912 Halverson Jan. 8, 1929 2,237,883 Lipic Apr. 8, 1941 2,264,194 Wuestman Nov. 25, 1941 2,396,771 Brinson Mar. 19, 1946 2,574,561 Hagel Nov. 13, 1951 

